Demigod Down (20 page)

“I hope the food is good,” I muttered to
Blake my expectations fairly low.

“I hope they have blood on the menu,” he
whispered into my ear, pinching my ass in my jeans as we entered
the crowded waiting room. The acoustics were terrible, echoing
everything back to us in loud waves that people had to shout
over.

I groaned, casting a look back at Blake and
his jaw tightened. His hearing was far beyond my own and I knew
this was a terrible environment for him. He was busy looking around
the restaurant trying to find our party.

“This way,” he said leading me around a half
wall and into a throng of people. I fucking hate crowds, I groaned
to myself, pushing my way behind him through skinny human males who
hadn’t showered in days and girls in ugly clothing purchased for
being fashionable rather than complimenting their body styles.

I was ready to leave.

Blake slipped us around effortless and onto a
slightly less crowded patio. Kass stood up quickly her chair
grinding over the concrete floor as she rushed over to us.

“You made it!” She cried, overjoyed wrapping
her arms around me in a hug. “Save me.” She whispered into my ear
before turning and hugging Blake as well.

We shared a look over her shoulder and I
rolled my eyes. Blake tried not to smile at my antics as Kass
pulled both of us over to the table. Logan and Lorraine sat at the
end where our empty seats were and I tried not to grimace as Kass
sat next to the only strangers in the group, Darren and Logan’s
parents.

Logan’s father smiled at us rising to shake
both our hands, his grip firm and warm, as were his caramel eyes. I
liked him immediately. Logan resembled him, but they both had his
strong jaw and wide forehead. “Lee,” he said, introducing
himself.

“Olivia,” I responded, turning, “and this is
Blake.”

Lee smiled, shaking Blake’s hand as well.
Turning to his wife I found her scowling at me, taken back I
blinked rapidly trying to figure out what I had done, already.

“Lorraine says you are a demon.” she stated
arms crossed over her chest.

My shoulders slumped and I cracked my neck
before answering with a sigh, “Not to my knowledge.” I slid in next
to Lorraine.

“Then you should learn not to spread rumors.”
his mother said. Shocked and fairly certain this dinner had just
done to hell, I looked up at her shocked, finding her staring
menacingly at Lorraine.

“I’m Jane dear girl. It’s lovely to meet you
both.” Jane said pulling out a winning smile I instantly recognized
from Darren.

Thankfully, Blake recovered first, saying,
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He nodded, sitting across from
me taking my hand with a reassuring squeeze.

Lorraine glared at Logan and a slow smile
spread across my lips.

“How was arbitration?” Lee asked me.

I wanted to cast an annoyed look at Lorraine,
but considering the beating she just took, I refrained. “It went
well, I think. We managed to get to the bottom of a few irritating
cases,” I answered with a smile.

“We heard about Amy,” Jane stated sadly.

“Yeah, that wasn’t a fun one,” I agreed as
the waiter delivered waters.

“You did well,” she complimented me.

“Thank you,” I said, earnestly again
shocked.

“Not many would have thought to remove her
makeup.”

“It was a hunch.”

“Does everyone know what they want?” the
waiter interrupted perkily.

All eyes turned to me and I looked quickly at
the menu, “Let’s do me last,” I said hopefully.

Jane smiled, giving her order to the waiter
as I hurriedly looked over the menu. Everything was weird, I didn’t
understand what half of this shit was. Even the appetizers had me
baffled.

“For you?” the waiter asked me.

“I’ll just have the grilled cheese,” l said,
handing him my menu.

Blake hadn’t ordered anything and after our
romp in the sheets, he should be well fed for now.

I waggled my eyebrows at him suggestively as
he smiled, pressing a kiss against my knuckles.

“Is that why you were late?” Lorraine asked,
disgusted.

I had opened my mouth to tell her to shove it
up her ass, but Jane beat me to it. “You will leave the poor girl
alone, Lorraine, you have done nothing but bad mouth her since we
showed up.”

“I can’t help it, you needed to be warned,
even if you aren’t heeding my expert advice,” Lorraine said
angrily, sucking down her wine. Dang it, I should have ordered
wine.

I groaned as Jane responded, “I don’t know
what my son sees in you.”

Logan threw his napkin on the table and was
about to get up, casting a look at Kass. I saw her bottom lip
trembling. This was supposed to be about her and Darren.

“Hey Kass, have you thought anymore about my
dress?” I asked, trying to throw the conversation into neutral
territory. Lorraine sat back with a huff, crossing her arms over
her chest. I gave Logan a pleading look and he put his napkin back
in his lap.

Blowing out a breath, I looked back at Kass
as she readily jumped on my attempt to change the subject. “Yes, I
have been thinking about it. I want to have you try it on again
before I make my decision. Jane maybe you would like to come with
us,” Kass offered hopefully.

Jane stopped glaring at Lorraine, pulling her
attention to Kass, “That would be lovely, dear. I need to find a
dress as well.”

“Wonderful,” Kass said smiling.

“How are you feeling dear?” Jane asked,
reaching over to squeeze Kass’s hand.

“Good, some days are better than others. I’ve
mainly just been exhausted, thankfully Darren has picked up my
slack,” Kass said, grinning at him.

Darren smiled that winning smile back.
“Hannah is really enjoying having another female in the house.
Apparently I am stinky boy now,” He teased Kass who laughed in
response.

“I have missed that girl,” Lee said, smiling.
“I hear we owe thanks to you for bringing her back.” He nodded at
me.

I shrugged and said, “Just doing my job.” The
attention and praise was making me uncomfortable.

“What do you do Blake?” Jane asked, including
him in the conversation.

“I run security at the Centennial House,” he
answered her. “Usually pretty boring stuff, unless Olie is
involved. “He laughed.

I shrugged as our food was delivered
agreeing, “I actually can’t find fault with that.”

“How was France?” I asked. “Kass said you
have a home there?”

Jane sighed. “Yes, we do. It is beautiful and
peaceful and just wonderful. But it was time to come home and see
our boys,” she said, pride shinning in her eyes.

We ate and talked more about the wedding
plans, avoiding any additional awkward conversations, mainly since
Lorraine stayed blissfully silent. Pushing my back plate, I had
picked out the strange lettuce and odd-looking tomatoes from my
sandwich and I was still hungry.

Having finished paying for our meal, we made
our way outside to get our vehicles from the valet.

“I’m still hungry,” Kass whispered to me as
we waited.

I laughed. “Me too,” I confided.

Logan was practically carrying the drunk
Lorraine and we let him get his car first.

“Ice cream?” I suggested. “We can pick up
Hannah and hit the place by your house?”

“That sounds brilliant,” Jane said coming to
link arms with both of us. “I’m afraid I am still hungry as well,”
she confided and we both laughed.

On the drive over to the make-it-yourself ice
cream parlor, I was absentmindedly stroking the back of Blake’s
neck when he asked, “Do you really believe there will be no
repercussions for killing Gabrielle?”

His question took me off guard and I dropped
my hand thinking about it. “The agreement was made in witness of a
master vampire along with several others, so I do believe no vamps
will directly come after me in an attempt to pay for his death. I
do know those who want to come after me will find other ways to
screw up my life.” I answered honestly.

He nodded. “Angelina pushed the marriage
proposal again.”

Jealousy followed by rage shot through me and
I pulled both those emotions down before I asked, “Can she save the
pet?”

Blake took his time answering his hands,
gripping the steering wheel with unnecessary force. He said, “She
claims that if I consent to mate her I will have additional
resources at my disposal for handling the situation.”

“That sounds like a well-spoken lie,” I
muttered.

Blake scoffed, “I said the same thing and
ended up in the pit with Gabrielle.”

“You shouldn’t have let him beat on you like
that,” I said, remembering the bloody mess Blake was.

He shrugged, tension tight in his shoulders,
“It’s a vampire thing,” he muttered.

I wanted to tell him it’s a fucking stupid
thing, but I held my tongue, I really didn’t want to fight
again.

We made it to the parlor before the rest and
I dished out an extra large portion of chocolate ice cream followed
by a dangerous amount of toppings as I walked carefully back to
where Blake was sitting.

After a few bites, the door jingled open,
followed by the high pitched “Olie!” as Hannah ran into my
arms.

I breathed in the scent of vanilla, taking in
her rumpled appearance. “Were you in bed?” I asked.

“Yes,” she stated annoyed and climbing into
my lap, “The new sitter tries to make me go to sleep before Kass
and Dad get home.” She huffed, crossing her tiny arms over her
tummy.

“Totally rude.” I agreed with her as Darren
made his way to the counter and Kass followed behind him.

Darren turned around a cup in hand, “What do
you want Hannah?” he asked as she bounded out of my lap to boss her
daddy around.

I smiled after them, turning to Blake before
continuing to stuff my face. Lee and Jane entered, followed by
Logan and I couldn’t help the laugh that left me. Blake kicked me
under the table, far better at keeping the peace than me.

Rolling my eyes, I turned back to him with a
raised eyebrow, his face perfectly composed. Kass sat down next me
to raising her own eyebrow as she dug into her ice cream.

Grinning like a fool at Blake, I turned to
Logan who was pulling up additional chairs at our table. “Where’s
Lorraine?” I asked, knowing the answer.

Blake huffed, throwing his hands up. “You
lack all tact, Olivia,” he informed me.

Logan cracked a rare smile before going to
get himself ice cream.

“We convinced him to drop her off at home and
come out with us,” Jane said. “She is a grown adult and I don’t
suppose this is the first time she has been drunk.”

I giggled and Kass gave a belly laugh before
covering her mouth when Darren looked back at us.

Logan didn’t even bother turning around,
shaking his head while paying for his ice cream.

Once everyone was settled, we fell into
companionable silence, Hannah sitting on Kass’s lap. Taking
Lorraine out of the situation had created a soft, comfortable
environment, which was one of the things I like most about shifters
- their ability to integrate any other species into their
clans.

When Jane spoke up, she took me completely
off guard. “Who is running the southeastern branch of the
shifters?” she asked.

Logan and Darren shared an equally annoyed
look with each other before Logan spoke up, “I am.”

“Along with the entire US?” Lee
questioned.

Logan stopped eating while regarding them
both and replied, “Yes.”

“Why?” Jane asked, staring pointedly at her
sons.

I cleared my throat, “I made Darren choose.”
I said, hoping to take the heat off of them, “After the incident
with Steven, I was worried about Hannah’s safety.”

“I could see why.” Lee said, “But now that he
is taken care of why is Darren not reinstated?”

“It’s fine, Mom and Dad. I’ve started a
private security company and we are doing well for the short time
we have been in business,” Darren said, not looking at his brother
as he forced a smile.

I felt Kass’s sadness at his statement as she
looked over to Logan who wasn’t looking at anyone.

Blake’s chair scraped against the tile as he
stood up and said, “I’m sorry to run out, but I have a matter to
take care of back at the house.” He pulled my chair out and I
watched him closely, doubting the truth of his story.

“Call me tomorrow to go look at the dress
again. Nice to meet you both,” I said to Jane and Lee turning to
follow Blake’s stiff gait out.

I waited until we had pulled away and were
down the road before I asked, “Do you really have house
business?”

Blake sighed ,running a hand over his face,
“Yeah, I have to go deal with Angelina’s master who is coming into
town. I got distracted by everything and almost forgot.” He reached
over to squeeze my hand reassuringly.

“Need me to come with? Deal with killing
Gabrielle?” I asked.

“No.” He answered quickly, suppressing a
laugh, “I don’t need you killing anyone else.”

I shrugged, looking at the window, looking
forward to getting some sleep, even if it would be alone.

I spent a long while in Blake’s bed when I
woke up, thinking about how turbulent our budding relationship had
been and hoping it would withstand all the pressures. A dark voice
from my past whispered that wasn’t possible and that eventually he
would see how broken and damaged I was and realize that he could do
so much better.

I pushed those thoughts away when Kass
called, “Hey.” I greeted her, sitting up in bed to answer the phone
sleepily.

“Are you still sleeping?” She asked
shocked.

“Naw, just pretty unmotivated today.” I
confessed.

She laughed and said “Think you can get over
here in an hour?”

“Yep.” I answered “See you soon.”